On December 2, 2022 KOHC members and oral health stakeholders from around the state came together for the Kentucky Oral Health Coalition Annual Meeting. We kicked off the meeting by hearing from the meeting Signature Sponsor, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky.   Participants heard a presentation from JoAnn Gurenlian, RDH, MS, PhD, AFAAOM, on the dental workforce shortage. JoAnn covered topics including the number of providers in the workforce before, during, and after the height of [...]

The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition (KOHC) is a statewide coalition of over 450 members and oral health stakeholders from every region of the Commonwealth. Membership includes dentists, dental hygienists, health professionals, family resource center coordinators, universities, managed care companies, business corporations, government entities, teachers, parents, educators, social workers, public health departments, community health advocates and many others. On behalf of  KOHC, we are writing this letter in response to the proposed regulation 201 KAR 8:601 [...]

For optimal well-being, children need thriving communities that support strong families, good health, protection from harm, economic security, and a high-quality education. The 2022 Kentucky KIDS COUNT County Data Book features the latest data on 16 measures of child well-being, showing whether outcomes for children across the Commonwealth have improved, worsened, or stayed the same over a five-year period. While the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to impact many families in ways that do not yet show up [...]

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, a time to recognize the chronic illness that nearly 10% of the US population lives with, and the impacts diabetes can have on the body. Diabetes is a condition that effects the body’s ability to process sugar resulting from unstable levels of a hormone called insulin. In addition to the effects this has on the body, diabetes also impacts the mouth and can play a role in an individual’s oral [...]

In response to the Interim Joint Committee on State Government hearing testimony on community water fluoridation, KOHC is partnering with Delta Dental of Kentucky, the Kentucky Dental Association, the Kentucky Dental Hygiene Association, the Kentucky Primary Care Association, and the Louisville Water Company in support of maintaining community water fluoridation in Kentucky. View our statement below. As a collective group of concerned healthcare providers, business leaders, active community members, and oral health advocates, we write [...]

We know that in addition to properly caring for oral health at home, individuals need access to appropriate treatment and care when they have an oral health concern. Providing dental care, and in particular care for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) - like tooth decay, intraoral abscesses, gingivitis, and periodontitis - is best addressed in a dentist’s office. However, the use of emergency departments (EDs) for NTDCs is on the rise and has become a growing [...]

October is Health Literacy Month, an optimal time to recognize the importance of health awareness and literacy, including oral health. Having access to and understanding health information is essential to caring for your whole-body health. Having good health literacy can even improve health outcomes, including fewer visits to the emergency room, fewer hospitalizations, and better preventive care for you and your children. Health literacy is also critical to advancing health equity. To ensure everyone has [...]

October is National Dental Hygiene Month! This is the time of the year to celebrate the important work dental hygienists do. There are more than 150,000 dental hygienists in the United States who are working hard to keep our mouths healthy and our smiles happy. Dental Hygiene Month is also meant to be an annual reminder for us to maintain proper oral hygiene. By practicing great dental habits, we can celebrate it at home. The [...]

Kentucky Oral Health Coalition members and oral health stakeholders from across the state convened virtually for the September Quarterly meeting on Friday, September 23. We kicked off the meeting with an introduction of a new KOHC staff member, Linda Stettenbenz. Dr. Wanda Gonsalves, founder and director of the Undergraduate Pre-Medical Academy at Kentucky State University, presented to the group on medical-dental integration efforts in Kentucky and the connection to health equity. Dr. Gonsalves shared about [...]

Earlier this week, Kentucky Oral Health Coalition participated in an event hosted by The Hill and sponsored by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.  As oral health advocates, we are familiar with the phrase, a healthy mouth is the gateway to a healthy body. Yet, oral health is often seen as a siloed system in the health care puzzle and a luxury service. Unfortunately, access to adult oral health care is inconsistent or inaccessible for millions of low-income [...]